The Gulf of Mexico Coastal Ocean Observing System (GCOOS) provides timely information about the environment of the United States portion of the Gulf of Mexico and its estuaries for use by decision-makers, including researchers, government managers, industry, the military, educators, emergency responders, and the general public.
GCOOS is one of a series of Regional Coastal Ocean Observing Systems which are part of the U.S. Integrated Ocean Observing System, which is, in turn, part of the intergovernmental Global Ocean Observing System and a significant national contribution to the Global Earth Observing System of Systems. The Gulf of Mexico observing system seeks collaborations with other nations and regional observing systems that border the Gulf to design and carry out a Gulf-wide system.